Lake Erie Grape Belt fared well in '08

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While the 2008 grape crop for processing in the heart of the Lake Erie Grape Belt — Chautauqua County — was on a scale with 2007, the total harvest was down in the grape-growing region’s New York counties.

“There was a drop of about 10,000 tons to 123,633 tons from 133,768 in 2007, but in Chautauqua County (the harvest) from Fredonia west to the state line it was as large if not larger than 2007,” said Thomas Davenport of Welch Foods Inc.

However, the total figure, which was compiled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Erie counties, was reduced because some Erie County growers suffered crop damage from a severe frost last spring, said Davenport in Westfield.

“(Erie County) really brought the number down but unfortunately there is no way at this time we can separate Erie County from the others,” said Davenport, director of viticulture for the National Grape Cooperative, Welch’s owner.

Chautauqua County is the state’s leading grower of Concord grapes, which are used for juice, and home to 21 wineries.

The Lake Erie region represents about 65 percent of the state’s grape acreage. Eighty-five percent of the total is Concord grapes on nearly 500 farms.